Most Preppers and Survivalists who have a “Vacation” property, whether it is a building or just a campsite, have it in an area they would like to be able to “Bugout” to during a bad situation. A lot of those types have stored additional supplies at that location for those bad times, and think the only issue they would have might be getting out of the city they live in, or maybe bad guys on the road.
While watching coverage of the many issues with different levels of Quarantine that have been implemented around the country and the world, I have noticed a disturbing trend that is taking hold in many locations. This is in regards to people that are not year round residents, but own property in other locations.
This trend has locals, whether Government or civilian, telling someone that actually owns property in their State or County (and pays the taxes on it) that they shouldn’t or can’t come to their property, and if they do get there, they are going to be restrictions on their movement.
While I understand some restriction on “Out of Staters”, to a point, my first question is, “Are the same restrictions being put on the locals?”. Below is a situation that happened on a an island off the coast of Maine.
“A man residing on Cripple Creek Road in Vinalhaven, an island off the coast of Maine, called authorities around 3:35 p.m. Friday to report a group of people with guns had cut down a large tree and dragged it in front of his driveway, blocking access to the main road.
The man said he left his house to check his property when he noticed the cable went out. The unidentified man said he retreated to his home and hailed the Coast Guard for help using a VHF radio after a neighbor began yelling at him to get indoors and remain quarantined.”
Well, I guess he at least made it to his property before the locals decided to take matters into their own hands, huh? There are other examples, like in Cherokee County NC, requiring “Part-timers” to bring enough supplies for a 14 day “self quarantine”. My second question is, Does the County require this of all it’s residents who are coming back into the State?”.
WKRK·
https://www.npr.org/local/309/2020/03/30/824162044/michigan-and-wisconsin-tell-chicago-stay-at-your-homes-until-pandemic-ends
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/03/24/coronavirus-second-homes/
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/10/travel/coronavirus-us-travel-driving-restrictions.html
What is the answer for the Prepper or Survivalist? There are three things that I see that helps to mitigate the problems shown above. First, it is better to be a week too early than a minute too late. If the guy on the island in Maine had gotten to his home a week or two earlier, would the issues with the locals have come up? If so, would they have been as bad? We’ll never know, but I’d say the possibilities would have been less.
The second recommendation to mitigate some of these issues would be where you buy your “Vacation” property in the first place. If you have a bunch of “Busybody” neighbors that see you arrive and that you are staying at your property, that can be a real issue. As has been shown many times over the years, many Americans can’t mind their own Damned business, and this is just an “In your face” example of it.
Here’s the third recommendation I’d give, in regards the checkpoints. Most destinations have multiple routes from point “A” to point “B”. Having those points mapped out and noted on a real map can be the difference between getting where you want to go, and being turned around or stuck in traffic. Knowing where you can unobtrusively cross a State line, on a logging road for instance, could make or break your escape from a “Hot Zone”.
My final recommendation is to be able to “Hoof It” if necessary. Have gear and supplies pre-positioned at the retreat property, and be able to leave your vehicle behind and carry some supplies on your back that will hold you over till you get to your property. Make sure you have paper maps, and use your GPS as a reference to those maps. Counting on things like cell phones and hand carried GPS is a recipe for disaster when your life is on the line.
Just some thoughts that have been bothering me over the last couple weeks that I thought I’d share. If you have some other ideas, I’d love to hear them.
JCD,
"Parata Vivere"-Live Prepared.
Gray Man
Hawkeye
Holy Serf
Jesse James
JC Dodge
Jesse James
johnyMac
Matt Bracken
NC Scout
Patriotman
Sam Culper
Another tip from Survivalblog is to have your vehicle registered in the state of your bugout property.
and to continue with what ‘Woodsplitter’ said…
Even if you’re not crossing state lines, have your license and vehicle registered with your retreat address (or PO Box) and not your ‘city’ address. In most states, after you receive your actual license (and vehicle registration) you can have it changed by simply putting a ‘change of address’ label on the backside. This would satisfy most law enforcement officers, that way, if you get pulled over for something simple like ‘a (rolling) California stop’ near your city home, you get your ticket (or hopefully just a warning) and you’re on your way, but, if you are stopped at a roadblock, your license has the local (retreat) address on the front and now you can (hopefully) pass go and collect $200 and again…you’re on your way this time, to a safe place.
Outstanding essay and images!
Good read JC.
MrsMac and I live in our originally envisioned retreat property now and cabin which I write about ad nauseam. My brother and my family bought this property in 2005 and built the permanent live in cabin in 2010. Anyway, just a few suggestions when you own vacation property that doubles as your retreat in times of drama.
1) Make an effort to know your neighbors. My brother and I started out by walking the country roads and introducing ourselves to the neighbors when ever the opportunity arose.
2) Waving at passer-byes on our 2-track township dirt roads and while driving around on the mountain.
3) Opening our property up to locals for trail riding, trapping, and hunting at different times of the year. They and the land was here way before you bought it.
4) Buying locally.
5) Going into the local watering hole to share a pint with the locals.
6) Help out your neighbor without being asked.
This strategy has worked for us and I recommend it to all “out-of-stater’s”.
Now – Kung Fu VIrus 2020. There are hundreds of hunting cabins in our very rural county that I have written about before. These “camps” only are visited twice a year. Once in the summer to burn a few steaks and drink a lot and the other is center-fire deer & bear season. To burn a few steaks and drink till your are falling down drunk.
Well about 50% of those hunting cabins are now full with out-of-stater’s – Mostly from NJ. There has now been three ruckuses that have broken out locally among the aforementioned out-of-stater’s. All three where shut down by county Deputy Sheriff’s backed up by locals.
I have also seen folks with Jersey plates drive way to fast for these winding country roads. Park in handicapped spots at the country store when the only visibility of a handicap was the 300-pounds they were lugging around. I witnessed a lady with a heavy Jersey accent arguing with the owner of our small 8,000 sf grocery store over TP. He had put a sign up asking customers to limit their purchase to 4-rolls per visit. This lady had her shopping cart half full of TP. 20+ rolls at least.
I have more stories to share however my point is that when the next drama causes one to evacuate from their suburban McDonald’s Mansion again back to your “camp” in my county, the locals will be a lot more apt to put up their very own road blocks. Just some food for thought.
When in Rome act as Romans not what ever suburbia hell-hole you came from.
Thanks JC!
Per JohnyMac – waving goes a long way! I even wave to people a mile or two away on the roads leading up to our rural home, this sets in their mind a visual vehicle / face reference as ‘friendly’s’. Especially true if setting up residence in a place where people have lived their entire lives and the roads may bear their family and farm names.
Maine bein’ Maine.